Certified Nursing Assistant or CNA is an occupation that is getting very popular nowadays the demand of skilled healthcare workers is developing constantly. There are many individuals who have not find such first entry level positions very attractive because they think that the salary is low, however these individuals aren’t right.

Individuals should realize that the most of the health care industry is one of the rare industries that was not affected by the worldwide financial crises and all experts agree that this industry will stay steady and prosperous sooner rather than later. Keeping in mind the end goal to complete and become a Certified Nurse Assistant then you should finish CNA training.

Clearly, all students are not the same, so some of them may find this course less troublesome than others. However, we can openly say that Certified Nursing Assistant training is simple and straightforward. Each student will learn the crucial components of medical subjects including physiology and anatomy. If you had good performance and received good grades on basis of evaluations in biology in high school, you should have the ability to understand these subjects and even have lot of fun while learning and training. What’s more, learners additionally have infection control and classes.

Truth to be told, they are not exceptionally demanding, but rather they can be revolting. However, most of the students won’t have any issues to learn and clear through the tests. Another intriguing subject is nutrition. Numerous students discover these classes fascinating, valuable and supportive. The tutoring some part of CNA training is simple and basic and the greater part of the graduates complete it with no issues. Even students who have included Red Cross CNA classes won’t have hard time completing them.

Each student must show what they have gained the knowledge related to the training on the classes and put that knowledge into practice. This part of the training is known as clinical exercises. It might sound troublesome, however simply like the theoretical part of the training, it is simple and fun. If you really need to finish your CNA training effectively, you should perform good performance and good attendance record. Trainees can’t skip over six hours.

This is the extreme training and it will consume some of your time, however with a decent time services you should have the ability to go to all classes. On top of that, this training goes on for up to three months, so you will have time schedule to sort out your life and be organize according to it. At last, the training is done after you successfully go through the two tests. They are not hard and they fundamentally serve as certification about the things you’ve learned in the classes.

Explaining HIPAA to Nursing Employees

In a world where people can find information about others with a simple search online, privacy might almost seem a relic of the past. Yet this could not be further from the truth. Privacy not only remains even more important. It's also enshrined into law. This is especially true of the medical profession. By law, medical records are only to made clear to another person under certain circumstances. Under a law known as Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or HIPAA, special precautions must be in place to make sure that medical information is not released without the consent of the person involved. It is imperative that all nursing employees are fully aware of the provisions of HIPAA and exactly how it applies to their work each day.

HIPAA Informational Safeguards

The laws that govern HIPAA apply to what are known as covered entities. These are places where these laws must be followed at all times. In these areas, certain processes must be in place in order to protect patients. All places must protect health information of their patients. The most important component of this regulation is to have HIPAA Compliant Server Hosting. Finding the right HIPAA compliant hosting can be expensive, but there are resources such as Web Hosting Professor that compare individual website hosting providers that have HIPAA servers in accordance with the HIPAA laws and regulations. They are legally required to make sure this information is not discarded by accident. They also must make sure that such information is not used by those who have not been given permission to view it. Ideally, all medical information is restricted to as few people as possible. Everyone at the facility in some capacity such as nurses and other staff members must observe restrictions as to this information is to be used by everyone.

Nurses on the Forefront of HIPAA Compliance

Nurses are at the forefront when it comes to providing patient care. They serve as the patient's first line of assistance in any health care setting. Under such circumstances, it is imperative that all nurses understand what is required of them by law. There are many ways that nurses can make sure all information is fully protected. Any nurse should keep in mind key terms such as situational awareness and effective document handling procedures. Nurses who are aware of how to convey information and make sure documents remain free of prying eyes are those who will make sure that all such laws are always upheld.

Proper HIPAA Education

Educating nurses about this law should involve making sure that all nurses know exactly what laws apply and how to make sure they are always applied legally. For example, when nurses speak to patients about medical procedures, they should be trained to be aware of many factors. This includes who is in the room with them, the loudness of their voice and the concerns of family members who may also be involved in such medical issues. Nurses should also make sure that all medical records are restricted only to those who have express permission to view them. This includes both written records and all electronic versions. Files should never be left unattended in the patient's room. Proper adherence to such procedures can make sure that nurses know exactly how implement all HIPAA requirements.

A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is someone who helps patients with their healthcare needs under the guidance and supervision of a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or a Registered Nurse (RN). They are entry level professionals who are also known as nurse’s assistants or aides. Their basic responsibilities include daily care for patients in hospitals, nursing homes and other health facilities. The training required for this and the demand is very high. This is why it is a very popular profession which is also a great way to start a lifelong successful career in nursing.

Main responsibilities of a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

Help patients with their day to day activities

One of the most important responsibilities of a CNA is to help their patient perform those daily activities that cannot on their own. Depending on the patient, his can include several things such as

Helping the patient to and in the washroom.

Helping the patient keep themselves clean. This may include bathing them and helping them changing their clothes.

Transferring between the bed and the wheel chair and re-positioning them in bed.

Taking them out for a walk or some other activity.

Serving them meals and even helping them eat if they cannot do it on their own.

Take vital signs of the patient

Taking vital signs of the patients and recording it diligently is a very important job as it helps the RN supervisor keep a tab on the health of the patient. There are several routine tasks such as taking temperature, blood pressure, pulse, pain level etc. These need to be recorded every day and on time.

Paying attention to the patient’s behavior

Apart from keeping an eye on the patient the CNA also has to keep an ear open for any health concerns that the patient or even the close family members may have. It is the CNA’s job to keep the patient comfortable and healthy so if they saying something about their medical well-being, it need to be noted and the RN supervisor should be informed.

Providing medical assistance

There are several tasks that a CNA has to perform to help the RN superior with the care of the patient and medical assistance is one of those tasks. For example, there are some states that allow CNA’s to draw blood. They may also have to clean and dress wounds. The CNA will also store and set up any medical equipment that is required for a patient.

Support for the patient

CNA do have a lot of patients to look after but they need to pay proper attention to each patient. This may include moral support for the patient as well, depending on the situation. If a patient needs some cheering up or encouragement to not give up on their treatment, a CNA should be willing to talk to them and help them a little bit.

The career path of a CNA is not very complicated but it does require hard work and commitment, as any field of work does. One thing that you need to be a CNA is a willingness to help people. Taking care of patients is not easy. It requires patience and kindness. So pursue this path if you think you are willing and capable of helping. It can be a very rewarding experience for people.

In order to pursue the career path of becoming a CNA you have to follow several steps.

CNA Education Programs

Your training is the first the basic step. CNA training programs vary by state so before your enroll yourself in a program you should check the rules of your state. The CNA training also differs by the institution. For example American Red Cross has its own training program and regulations. Then there are the local health care providers, technical schools, community colleges and even online training programs such as Think CNA Online. As we mentioned, each institution has its own program which can last anywhere from four to sixteen weeks.

State CNA Certification Exams

CNA training does not qualify you to become a CNA; you will still have pass exams set by your state in order to become fully certified. Most CNA classes online should cover your local state’s requirements as part of the preparation for the CNA certification exam.

The exam will include theory, clinical ad practical components. While you are waiting to take your exam, you may be able to work for a few months but again that depends on the regulations of your state. Each state also has its own extra certification requirements so look those up as well to avoid any surprises later.

After you receive you certification, there are two things that you can do. Either you can go on and get a CNA job at a health care facility. Or you can go back to school for some more education in your field. The second option is mandatory in some states. They require you to complete a set number of credits each year in order to attain and maintain your certification.

Further CNA Career Options

Once your training is fully complete and you have some experience, you will be able to decide better what you want to do. You can go on to become a CNA for a long term. It offers great job security and you build lasting relations with your patients in health care facilities, especially in nursing homes.

If you don’t want the relaxed pace of a nursing home, you can apply to a hospital. You will not have much time with your patients there as they are discharged after a few days. But the environment of a hospital is faster paced so you can go for that as well.

Other than that, you get even higher education and go for the career path of a Registered Nurse (RN). With their experience, it is a logical choice for many CNA to pursue.